MSU QB Kirk Cousins considered joining Cubit, Broncos

Associated Press fileMSU quarterback Kirk Cousins was a regular on Western Michigan's campus during the recruiting process.EAST LANSING — When Michigan State first offered quarterback Kirk Cousins a scholarship, many thought the Spartans had just landed their next scout team QB.

After all, Michigan State was only interested in Cousins after heralded prospect Keith Nichol reneged on his commitment following the firing of coach John L. Smith and headed to Oklahoma.

Today, Cousins will start against Western Michigan, ahead of Nichol, who transferred to MSU after one year with the Sooners.

It’s an example of the inexact science of recruiting: Cousins, a two-star recruit out of Holland Christian, the choice over Nichol, the four-star QB from Lowell. Both are redshirt-sophomores.

“I was aware of the perception that there were people out there who said that I didn’t belong at Michigan State,” Cousins said this week, “and I’ve used that as motivation to continue to press myself and become the best quarterback I can be.”

Broncos coach Bill Cubit isn’t surprised by pecking order at Michigan State. He’s seen recruiting rankings proved absurd many times in his coaching career. And he saw something in Cousins, who very well might have attended WMU if not for the late offer from Michigan State.

“I actually did (see this coming),” Cubit said. “I actually thought he was a really good player. I was a little surprised more people weren’t on him. And he had spent a lot of time down here, he and his dad. I really thought he was going to be a really good player.

“The intangibles, that’s what I though Kirk had. He was a strong-willed kid and I thought he could throw it, but he was a determined kid. And that’s what you saw. Sometimes these guys get these four and five stars and think they got it made and all of sudden they look and they’re playing behind the two-star guy.”

The decision has worked out for Cousins. Had he chosen WMU, he’d likely be still sitting behind a no-star guy in Tim Hiller.

“I was very serious about Western Michigan and did spend a lot of time there, trying to develop a relationship with Coach Cubit and coach (Tim) Lester, the quarterbacks coach who was there at the time,” said Cousins, who was also considering Toledo and canceled a visit to Colorado when the MSU offer came. “ ... I have a lot of respect for Coach Cubit and their offense and the system they run, and I did get to know them pretty well.”